Example Question #1 : Reading: Literature

Flood-tide below me! I see you face to face!Clouds of the west—sun there half an hour high—I see you also face to face.

Crowds of men and women attired in the usual costumes, how curious you are to me!On the ferry-boats the hundreds and hundreds that cross, returning home, are more curious to me than you suppose,And you that shall cross from shore to shore years hence are more to me, and more in my meditations, than you might suppose.

2

The impalpable sustenance of me from all things at all hours of the day,The simple, compact, well-join’d scheme, myself disintegrated, every one disintegrated yet part of the scheme,The similitudes of the past and those of the future,The glories strung like beads on my smallest sights and hearings, on the walk in the street and the passage over the river,The current rushing so swiftly and swimming with me far away,The others that are to follow me, the ties between me and them,The certainty of others, the life, love, sight, hearing of others.

Others will enter the gates of the ferry and cross from shore to shore,Others will watch the run of the flood-tide,Others will see the shipping of Manhattan north and west, and the heights of Brooklyn to the south and east,Others will see the islands large and small;Fifty years hence, others will see them as they cross, the sun half an hour high,A hundred years hence, or ever so many hundred years hence, others will see them,Will enjoy the sunset, the pouring-in of the flood-tide, the falling-back to the sea of the ebb-tide.

3

It avails not, time nor place—distance avails not,I am with you, you men and women of a generation, or ever so many generations hence,Just as you feel when you look on the river and sky, so I felt,Just as any of you is one of a living crowd, I was one of a crowd,Just as you are refresh’d by the gladness of the river and the bright flow, I was refresh’d,Just as you stand and lean on the rail, yet hurry with the swift current, I stood yet was hurried,Just as you look on the numberless masts of ships and the thick-stemm’d pipes of steamboats, I look’d.

I too many and many a time cross’d the river of old,Watched the Twelfth-month sea-gulls, saw them high in the air floating with motionless wings, oscillating their bodies,Saw how the glistening yellow lit up parts of their bodies and left the rest in strong shadow,Saw the slow-wheeling circles and the gradual edging toward the south,Saw the reflection of the summer sky in the water,Had my eyes dazzled by the shimmering track of beams . . .

Based on the speaker's description, most of the passengers on the boat are ______________.

Possible Answers:

commuters

tourists

sailors

immigrants first arriving in the United States

Correct answer:

commuters

Explanation:

This question tests your ability to restrict the scope of your answer to something that is tied directly to textual evidence. This question tests your ability to understand and find sufficient evidence to justify an interpretation of the text's explicit meaning, not your ability to infer meaning from the poem.

You may be aware of the great deal of cultural material covering the arrival of immigrants to the United States (and specifically New York) on boats. The wide scope of the poetic language of this poem, and the use of specific poetic phrases like "shore to shore," but there is no direct evidence that the other passengers are immigrants. For this answer to be correct, you would have to be able to find specific reference to the passenger's cultural backgrounds, not to mention that the boat would most likely not be ferry, but a larger, ocean-faring vessel. The same is true of tourists, there is no mention anywhere in the poem that the passengers are visitors to New York.

The speaker does, however, say that the "hundreds that cross" are "returning home," which is the very definition of commuting!

Example Question #2 : Reading: Literature

Adapted from Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence (1920)

It invariably happened in the same way.

Mrs. Julius Beaufort, on the night of her annual ball, never failed to appear at the Opera; indeed, she always gave her ball on an Opera night in order to emphasise her complete superiority to household cares, and her possession of a staff of servants competent to organise every detail of the entertainment in her absence.

The Beauforts' house was one of the few in New York that possessed a ball–room (it antedated even Mrs. Manson Mingott's and the Headly Chiverses'); and at a time when it was beginning to be thought "provincial" to put a "crash" over the drawing–room floor and move the furniture upstairs, the possession of a ball–room that was used for no other purpose, and left for three–hundred–and–sixty–four days of the year to shuttered darkness, with its gilt chairs stacked in a corner and its chandelier in a bag; this undoubted superiority was felt to compensate for whatever was regrettable in the Beaufort past.

Mrs. Archer, who was fond of coining her social philosophy into axioms, had once said: "We all have our pet common people—" and though the phrase was a daring one, its truth was secretly admitted in many an exclusive bosom. But the Beauforts were not exactly common; some people said they were even worse. Mrs. Beaufort belonged indeed to one of America's most honoured families; she had been the lovely Regina Dallas (of the South Carolina branch), a penniless beauty introduced to New York society by her cousin, the imprudent Medora Manson, who was always doing the wrong thing from the right motive. When one was related to the Mansons and the Rushworths one had a "droit de cite" (as Mr. Sillerton Jackson, who had frequented the Tuileries, called it) in New York society; but did one not forfeit it in marrying Julius Beaufort?

The question was: who was Beaufort? He passed for an Englishman, was agreeable, handsome, ill–tempered, hospitable and witty. He had come to America with letters of recommendation from old Mrs. Manson Mingott's English son–in–law, the banker, and had speedily made himself an important position in the world of affairs; but his habits were dissipated, his tongue was bitter, his antecedents were mysterious; and when Medora Manson announced her cousin's engagement to him it was felt to be one more act of folly in poor Medora's long record of imprudences.

But folly is as often justified of her children as wisdom, and two years after young Mrs. Beaufort's marriage it was admitted that she had the most distinguished house in New York. No one knew exactly how the miracle was accomplished. She was indolent, passive, the caustic even called her dull; but dressed like an idol, hung with pearls, growing younger and blonder and more beautiful each year, she throned in Mr. Beaufort's heavy brown–stone palace, and drew all the world there without lifting her jewelled little finger. The knowing people said it was Beaufort himself who trained the servants, taught the chef new dishes, told the gardeners what hot–house flowers to grow for the dinner–table and the drawing–rooms, selected the guests, brewed the after–dinner punch and dictated the little notes his wife wrote to her friends. If he did, these domestic activities were privately performed, and he presented to the world the appearance of a careless and hospitable millionaire strolling into his own drawing–room with the detachment of an invited guest, and saying: "My wife's gloxinias are a marvel, aren't they? I believe she gets them out from Kew."

Mr. Beaufort's secret, people were agreed, was the way he carried things off. It was all very well to whisper that he had been "helped" to leave England by the international banking–house in which he had been employed; he carried off that rumour as easily as the rest—though New York's business conscience was no less sensitive than its moral standard—he carried everything before him, and all New York into his drawing–rooms, and for over twenty years now people had said they were "going to the Beauforts'" with the same tone of security as if they had said they were going to Mrs. Manson Mingott's, and with the added satisfaction of knowing they would get hot canvas–back ducks and vintage wines, instead of tepid Veuve Clicquot without a year and warmed–up croquettes from Philadelphia.

Mrs. Beaufort, then, had as usual appeared in her box just before the Jewel Song; and when, again as usual, she rose at the end of the third act, drew her opera cloak about her lovely shoulders, and disappeared, New York knew that meant that half an hour later the ball would begin.

The underlined and bolded sentence implies that ________________.

Possible Answers:

Mr. Beaufort is not, in fact, an Englishman

Mr. Beaufort is very wealthy

Mr. Beaufort is an Englishman

Mr. Beaufort is a conman and a criminal

Correct answer:

Mr. Beaufort is not, in fact, an Englishman

Explanation:

The key language to note in the highlighted sentence is the first verb phrase: "[Mr. Beaufort] passed for an Englishman." Anytime someone is said to "pass for" something, it carries the strong implication that they are not actually that thing. A shark doesn't need to "pass for" a shark, they just are one! To "pass for" something implies successful artifice. So, it is safe to say (although note that this is implicit, rather than explicit meaning) that Mr. Beaufort is not an Englishman.

To be absolutely certain, let's check the other answer options. The implication of deception inherent to Beaufort's "pass[ing] for an Englishman" brings the implications of the sentence closer to the idea that he is conman, but there is no implication that money or crime is involved in this deception. Remember, these questions will only test implications that can be tied directly to textual evidence; the logical leap to equating Beaufort's passing for English to being a conman is simply not credible given the specified evidence. While the rest of the passage lets us know, quite definitively, that he is wealthy, the specific sentence isolated makes no mention of money.

Example Question #3 : Reading: Literature

Adapted from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (1817)

It is now expedient to give some description of Mrs. Allen, that the reader may be able to judge in what manner her actions will hereafter tend to promote the general distress of the work, and how she will, probably, contribute to reduce poor Catherine to all the desperate wretchedness of which a last volume is capable — whether by her imprudence, vulgarity, or jealousy — whether by intercepting her letters, ruining her character, or turning her out of doors.

Mrs. Allen was one of that numerous class of females, whose society can raise no other emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world who could like them well enough to marry them. She had neither beauty, genius, accomplishment, nor manner. The air of a gentlewoman, a great deal of quiet, inactive good temper, and a trifling turn of mind were all that could account for her being the choice of a sensible, intelligent man like Mr. Allen. In one respect she was admirably fitted to introduce a young lady into public, being as fond of going everywhere and seeing everything herself as any young lady could be. Dress was her passion. She had a most harmless delight in being fine; and our heroine’s entree into life could not take place till after three or four days had been spent in learning what was mostly worn, and her chaperone was provided with a dress of the newest fashion. Catherine too made some purchases herself, and when all these matters were arranged, the important evening came which was to usher her into the Upper Rooms. Her hair was cut and dressed by the best hand, her clothes put on with care, and both Mrs. Allen and her maid declared she looked quite as she should do. With such encouragement, Catherine hoped at least to pass uncensured through the crowd. As for admiration, it was always very welcome when it came, but she did not depend on it.

Mrs. Allen was so long in dressing that they did not enter the ballroom till late. The season was full, the room crowded, and the two ladies squeezed in as well as they could. As for Mr. Allen, he repaired directly to the card–room, and left them to enjoy a mob by themselves. With more care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort of her protegee, Mrs. Allen made her way through the throng of men by the door, as swiftly as the necessary caution would allow; Catherine, however, kept close at her side, and linked her arm too firmly within her friend’s to be torn asunder by any common effort of a struggling assembly. But to her utter amazement she found that to proceed along the room was by no means the way to disengage themselves from the crowd; it seemed rather to increase as they went on, whereas she had imagined that when once fairly within the door, they should easily find seats and be able to watch the dances with perfect convenience. But this was far from being the case, and though by unwearied diligence they gained even the top of the room, their situation was just the same; they saw nothing of the dancers but the high feathers of some of the ladies. Still they moved on — something better was yet in view; and by a continued exertion of strength and ingenuity they found themselves at last in the passage behind the highest bench. Here there was something less of crowd than below; and hence Miss Morland had a comprehensive view of all the company beneath her, and of all the dangers of her late passage through them. It was a splendid sight, and she began, for the first time that evening, to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance, but she had not an acquaintance in the room. Mrs. Allen did all that she could do in such a case by saying very placidly, every now and then, “I wish you could dance, my dear — I wish you could get a partner.” For some time her young friend felt obliged to her for these wishes; but they were repeated so often, and proved so totally ineffectual, that Catherine grew tired at last, and would thank her no more.

Which of the given answer choices is the best evidence that Mrs. Allen is not concerned for Catherine's well-being?

Possible Answers:

"With more care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort of her protegee"

"she began, for the first time that evening, to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance"

"As for admiration, it was always very welcome when it came, but she did not depend on it."

"Mrs. Allen was one of that numerous class of females, whose society can raise no other emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world who could like them well enough to marry them. She had neither beauty, genius, accomplishment, nor manner."

Correct answer:

"With more care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort of her protegee"

Explanation:

This question takes for granted the assertion that Mrs. Allen is not concerned for Catherine's well-being and asks you to choose from the best evidence to support this assertion from the four provided quotations. You may notice that the writers of this test (those tricksters) have included two options containing pronouns whose referents are not clear in a vacuum, so first thing's first, you should read the surrounding context and clarify these pronouns for yourself. Aha! Right away we can see that "as for admiration...," is actually a sentence concerned with Catherine's own personality and inner emotional state, which, while influenced by Mrs. Allen, will hardly be the best evidence of her uncaring nature. Not only that, the same can be said for "she began..." which doesn't even have anything to do with Mrs. Allen! It is purely concerned with Catherine's desire to dance.

The description of Mrs. Allen ("Mrs. Allen was one...") is yet another hint towards this, but is primarily concerned with generally describing (in distinctly unflattering terms) Mrs. Allen, not on her specific relationship to Catherine.

This leaves us with the correct answer, which clearly provides a specific instance of Mrs. Allen having "more care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort of protegee [Catherine]."

All Common Core: 12th Grade English Language Arts Resources

Report an issue with this question

If you've found an issue with this question, please let us know. With the help of the community we can continue to
improve our educational resources.

Do not fill in this field

* Your Name:

* Your Email:

* Issue Description:

DMCA Complaint

If you believe that content available by means of the Website (as defined in our Terms of Service) infringes one
or more of your copyrights, please notify us by providing a written notice (“Infringement Notice”) containing
the
information described below to the designated agent listed below. If Varsity Tutors takes action in response to
an
Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by
means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to Varsity Tutors.

Your Infringement Notice may be forwarded to the party that made the content available or to third parties such
as
ChillingEffects.org.

Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially
misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located
on or linked-to by the Website infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.

Please follow these steps to file a notice:

You must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf;
An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed;
A description of the nature and exact location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in \
sufficient detail to permit Varsity Tutors to find and positively identify that content; for example we require
a
link to the specific question (not just the name of the question) that contains the content and a description of
which specific portion of the question – an image, a link, the text, etc – your complaint refers to;
Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and
A statement by you: (a) that you believe in good faith that the use of the content that you claim to infringe
your copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; (b) that all of the
information contained in your Infringement Notice is accurate, and (c) under penalty of perjury, that you are
either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.